Salt or pepper shaker



(No Model.)

G. K. HAMPELDT. SALT 0R PEPPER SHAKER.

No. 600,262. Patented Mar. 8, 1898.8`

UiviTnn STATES PATENT OFFICE,

GEORGE K. I-IAMFELDT, OF ALBANY, NEW YORK.

SALT OR PEPPER SHAKER.

SPECIFICATION forming part 0f Letters Patent N0. 600,262, dated March 8, 1898.

Application filed August 3, 1897- Serial No. 646,932. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, GEORGE K. HAMFELDT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Albany, in the county of Albany and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Salt or Pepper Shakers; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to salt and pepper shakers or cruets; and the object in View is to provide a simple and effective device of the character referred to, by means of which the contents of the cruet may be thoroughly agitated, thus facilitating the discharge of the same as needed.

The detailed objects and advantages of the invention will appear in the course of the subjoined description.

The invention consists in an improved salt and pepper shaker or cruet embodying certain novel features and details of construction and arrangement of parts, as hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the drawings, and incorporated in the claims hereto appended.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view through a cruet or shaker constructed in accordance with the present invention. Fig, 2 is a similar view showing a slightly-modiiied form of the de.- vice. Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the cruet, showing the opening for supplying material to the interior of the cruet. Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the agitator.

Similar numerals of reference designate corresponding parts in all the views.

Referring to the drawings, 1 designates the body of the shaker or cruet, which is preferably of cylindrical form, but which of course may be varied as to its form without departing from the principle or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention. At or near its top edge the body 1 is provided with an indentation or groove 2, extending around the same and adapted to receive the inwardlyextending rib or thread 3 of a removable top or cap 4, which ts partially over the top of the body 1 and is provided at one side of the center with a segmental opening 5, forming the means whereby the cruet or shaker may be Iilled. The to`p part 6 of the body is also provided with a segmental opening 7 ,adapted, when the cap 4 is rotated, to be brought into alinement with the opening 5, so as to enable the cruet to be filled. By giving the cap 4 a half-turn the openings are carried out of alinement with each other, thus closing the cruet.

Extending centrally and vertically through the body 1 is a vertically-movable plunger 8, the upper end of which extends above the top of the cruet, where it is provided with a cap or head 9. Between the head 9 and the top of the cruet is arranged a coil-spring 10,which is disposed around the plunger 8 and which serves to uplift the plunger. The plunger at itslower end extends through an opening in the bottom of the cruet, where it is provided with a plurality of radiating arms 11 of suitable lengths and carrying upwardly-projecting pins or agitators 12, arranged in eccentric or staggered relation. These pins or agitators are provided with pointed upper ends, as indicated at 13, and at their point of junction with the radiating arms 11 they are enlarged to form cones 14 for effecting a closure of a corresponding series of openings 15 in the bottom 16 of the cruet. y The bottom 16 is preferably formed of metal and is threaded to adapt it to be screwed upon the lower and threaded end of the body 1 of the cruet, so that it may be removed for cleansing the interior of the cruet Whenever necessary.

In Fig. 2 I have shown a slightly-dierent form of cruet, in which instead of making the bottom removable it is formed integrally with the cruet. In this case also instead of providing the filling-opening in the top of the cruet the entire top is imperforate and is threaded upon the upper end of the body 1, v

so that in order to iill the cruet said top must be removed. y

From the foregoing description it will be seen that by means of the construction described it is an easy matter to throughly agitate the salt or other material contained in the cruet preparatory to discharging the same.

In operation the cruet is lifted and the button 9 depressed, thus causing the agitaiingfingers 12 to move up and down within the material and loosen the same. At the same time the cones 14, which constitute valves for closing the openings 15 in the bottom of IOO the cruet, are unseated and the loosened material is allowed to' be: discharged through said openings in a quantity'proportionate to the extent to which the plunger is depressed. The farther the plunger is depressed the larger the openings through which the material can pass.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new, and desired to be secured by Letters Patent, is-- v l. In a shaker or cruet of the class described, the combination-with the body thereof provided in one end with a plurality of openings, of a spring-retracted plunger having at one end a series of inwardly-extending agitators which work through openings in one end of the body and extend in substantially parallel relation to the plunger, substantially as described.

2. In a shaker of the class described, the combination with a hollow body provided in one of its ends with a plurality of openings, of a springretracted plunger passing'throu gh the ends of the body and provided at one end witha series of radiating arms carrying a plufrality of inwardly-extending agitators working through the openings in the body and extending in parallel relation to the plunger, substantially as described.

' 3. In a shaker or cruet of the class described, the combination with a hollow body f provided at one end with a series of openings,

of a spring-retracted plunger reciprocating through openings in the ends of the cruet, radiating arrns extending at right angles to -one end of said plunger, and a series of agitators carried by said arms and working -through the openings in the body, the said "agitators being pointed 'at their inner ends and cone-shaped at their point of junction with the arms of the plunger, all arranged substantially as and for the purpose de- `scribed. l In testimony whereof I have signed this f specification in the-presence of two subscribing witnesses.

GEORGE K. HAMFELDT. Witnesses A. C. RoTTHoFF, I. BENTZON. 

